Eyelet-machine



W. D. PIERSON.

EY.ELET MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,4919.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Pl U/VGER now/v WILLIAM D. PIERSON', OF WATERBURY, BURY FARREL FOUNDRY AND CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN'OR TO THE WATER- MACHINE COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CON- nEcTIcUT, A CORPORATION or connscrrcu'r.

EYELET-MACHINE.

Application filed July 17, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, l VILLIAM D.'PInRsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of )Vaterbury, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyelet-Machines the principles of which are set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed the form of the invention which now consider to be the best of the various forms in which said principles of the in vention may be embodied.

This invention relates to improvements in eyelet machines.

The object of this invention is toprovide means forpreventing injuries to the plunger and bumper, or either of them, by the normal operation of the machine.

The invention consists of the arrangement and construction shown inFigures 1, 6, 7 and 8, including the construction of the head 22B of bumper rod20 together with the upper end of plunger 18 Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the relevant parts of an eyelet machine and Figs. 2 and 3 are a front elevation and a plan respectively of the bumper rod 20 and its head 22 B shown in Fig. 1 in side elevation.

Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan and vfront elevation respectively which show the assembly of the new bumper head 22 B with the new plunger head 29 B in greater detail than in Fig. 1.

The type of machine to which this invention relates is clearlyindicated in Fig. 1.

An eyelet machine, which is used to make a great variety of small sheet metal articles which arefinished complete by the machines without any annealing or subsequent opera tion whatever, is essentially a multiple press; and Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a portion of one of such presses. A front ele-, vation would show such presses arranged side by side and op-' erated by cams on shaft 2. (Front views Figs. 2 and 5 show how the parts appear when looking at the front of the eyelet ma chine.) Each of such presses executes the special'oper'ation for which its punch and die (Fig. 1, see 30, 31) may be designed and any suitable carrier automatically transfers the articles in process from each press to the Specification of Letters Patent.

'8 (one for each plunger) merely a plurality of" Patented Aug. 10, 1920. Serial No. 311,513.

next. Meanwhile all the multiple presses are being operated simultaneously on the articles in successive steps of the process all via cam shaft 2.

s shown in Fig. 1 each press has a pushdown or plunger cam 7 secured by feather 3 to shaft 2 suitably mounted (not shown) in frame 1 of the machine. In the position shown (Fig. 1) this plunger cam 7 has just caused a downward plunge of all the parts shown below it save only the frame 1 of the machine in which said parts are mounted to be vertically reciprocable.

Cam-shaft 2 rotates anti-clockwise as indicated by the arrow at the left in Fig. 1. Also mounted on shaft 2 is a lifting cam which, (on the continued operation of the machine, and the continued anti-clockwise revolution of this lifting cam 8,) is to engage beneath lifting part 9 which is fixed to lifter rod 11, which is reciprocable in the two bronze bushings mounted in frame All cams are usually and preferablyv made of tool steel accurately milled to shape and hardened to resist wear. Lifter rod 11 is fixed by angle or knee 17 to. the plunger 18 B at the left so that all these parts reciprocate together. As indicated by the contour of plunger cam 7 a. downward movement of the plunger 18 is produced the increment preferably growing less per degree of cam rotation. In the position shown in Fig. 1, (at the end of the down stroke) the point of cam 7 gives a sharp side-sweeping bump to the top of member 22 B which is therefore termed the bumper head and is usually made of hardened steel. Cam 8 actuates against lifter 9 which elevates plunger 18 B, this cam 8 being shaped so as not to interfere with the action of cam 7.

Plunger horizontal cross section for convenience in machining and provided with a circular hole 26 which receives bumper shank 20. A vertical adjustment of plunger and bumper rod is provided so that for any. given punch 30 and corresponding die 31 in chuck 28 screwed tight in the lowerend of the plunger 18 B such punch will reach its position adjacent die 31 at the instant plunger cam 7 reaches its lowermost position on the top of bumper head 22 B. The adjusting means is shown at thelower end of bumper shank 18 B is usually rectangular in' .cam 7 in its lowermost position down and bumper are shown 26 but not so tightly as to 20 near the lower part of hole 26 in plunger 18 and by use of this adjusting means the distance may be varied between the top of mushroom head 22 B and the lower end of punch 30. This adjustment is executed with against the top of mushroom head'22 B and such, executionconslsts 1n operating the adjusting means so as to force plunger 18 B down so as to carry punch down to its position adjacent the die 31. The adjusting meansj shown comprises a key 23 entering a hole 25 in plunger '18 B, the key also entering an angular dove-tail slot 21 in the lower end of bumper shank 20, near the bottom of the circular hole 26 in plunger 18 B. Bumper shank 20 fits rather tightly in hole prevent adjustmentby driving the key 23 in or out. liey 23 is formed with an angle as shown so that drivingithe key inward will force plunger 18 B downward. (Set screw 26% holds key 23 in its adjusted position). The latter movement ofplunger 18 B is not very great but it has resulted in a clearance space in the prior constructions between the bottom 'ofthe bumper head and the top of plunger 18' B. Such clearance has amounted to sevleralsixteenths'of an inch in some cases,

when the full range of adjustment has been attained which is frequently the case. Of course, when the key 23 is fully out the bumper head of such prior constructions 'will rest directly on the top of the plunger but this is rarely the case in action, and there is practically always a substantial clearance opening. Obviously it is desirable to start adjusting the tools with the key full out and no clearance opening at the top and lightly tap the key to drive it in as may be necessary to obtain the correct adjustment v between the punch and the die.

- the repeated action of plunger cam 7 on the head of the bumper of the old type has been to bend'the'bumper shank 20 in the direction of cam movement The effect of and to enlarge the hole 26 in the plunger which in all other for long service without the use of repair or head becomes offset, and occabumper shank 20 is fractured. The greater the clearance above referred to the greater the bending action. This'has been a very serious fault inthese machines respects have been so that the sionally the replacement parts. 1 r

In the present invention 1 have provided a remedy for the above defect which is wholly independent of any auxiliary bumper member, and consists ofchanges in the construction, of both the plunger head and the bumper head.

The head 22 B of the bumper is T-shaped" as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Its thickness from front to rear (Fig. 1) is the same or a" little greater than the diameter of its built.

cylindrical shank 20 and its width along the front of the machine (Fig. 5) is usuallythe same as that of plunger; cam 7. p

top or upper end of the 29 B cut in it diagonally, longitudinally along the chine. This slot 29 B has a to receive the T-shaped head 22 B of the bumper; that is, the head 22 B is made T-shaped or narrow in order to fit into a slot 29 B which shall not be so thick as to make its walls 32 B too weak. The depth of slot 29B may be two or three times the total possible vertical adjustment of plunger and bumper above described; and hence even when plunger 18 B has been adjusted down to its lowest possible position, the T-head 22B will be supported by the upward projections 32 B from the upper end of the plunger 18 B. Not only is an actual support provided by the projections 32 B for a considerable vertical lengthof the head 22 B, but by virtue of said support it is no longer necessary to have a considerable extent of bumper head extending above the top of the plunger. The vertical length of the bumper head 22 B (as shown in Fig. 2 for example) may be substantially independent of strength for resisting the bending strain; for the only consideration entering into the design of the vertical length is the range of adjustment of plunger and bumper.

This adjustment is not required to be more than several (say three) sixteenths of an inch at most. So far as concerns the bumper action of cam 7 it is only necessary that head 22 B project slightly above the top of plunger 18 B suflicientto give clearance for cam 7 Hence so far as said two factors are concerned there'is no reason'for any considerable vertical length of the new bumper head. Therefore advantage may be taken of the new construction with the object and result of making the vertical length of head 22 B much shorter than has been permitted heretofore, so as to greatly reduce the length of the head which projects up beyond the plunger 18 B and thereby reduce the length of the lever arm between cam 7 and the plunger and further increase the resistance to the bending strain on head 22 B by cam 7 in addition to the actual support afforded to said head by the parts 32 B projecting upwardly from the plunger. I prefer to provide both front and back projections 32 B as the result of forming the slot 29 B across the head of plunger 18 B, but in some cases it will be sufficient to provide only one, i. 6., the one behind head 22 B in the direction of rotation of cam 7 which will resist the side-sweeping action. However, when width adapted both projections 32 B are employed (as when formed by slot; 29 B) each ofthem cooperates with the other in supporting head 22 B against the bending strain from cam 7. V

Summing up, the result of the simple but practical changes in the construction of the plunger and bumper of the eyelet machine is to provide a complete and for the defects of the prior construction.

The construction details of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 are as follows, in addition to those already described: Plunger 18 B is held in frame 1 by front caps 15. Angle 17 (which unites plunger 18 B to lifter rod 11) is properly located and held fast to lifter rod 11 by means of a pin, bolt or other fastening 16; and the angle 17 is fastened to plunger 18 B by screws 19. A recess 27 is cut in the square, plunger 18 B to receive the uniting angle 17.

Lifter 9 (beneath which lifting cam 8 engages to lift the 11 up from the die 31) is clamped fast to lifter rod 11 by having its rear end (right Fig. 1) slotted and by screw 10.

Stability is given to the system consisting of the plunger 18 B the bumper 22 B and lifter rod 11 by means of the adjustable spring-compression friction 12 shown as embracing the upper part of the lifter rod 11. This comprises the split bushing 12, the halves of which are held together around rod 11 by means of the springs shown. Bushing 12 is mounted in plate 13 secured fast to the top of the frame 1 as shown. hen the machine comprises more than a few presses operated by a row of cams on shaft 2 then a saddle 4 is secured by screws 5 to the frame 1 at a point intermediate the bearings of shaft 2. The lower side of saddle 4 is rounded to conform it to receive a collar 6 mounted in shaft 2 to rotate against said rounded out lower surface of saddle 4.

I claim 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the operating pushdown cam, the plunger for carrying the working tool, and the bumper having a shank engaging in a longitudinal hole in the plunger and having a head diametrically larger than its shank and projecting beyond the plunger to be engaged on its projectin end by said cam of means for relatively ac justing the plunger and bumper longitudinally, said bumper head being T-shaped and said plunger having a slot across its top in a direction across the working face of said cam; said slot being dimensioned to receive said T-head and having a depth greater than the possible relative adjustment of plunger and bumper, all whereby the T-head will be supported by the walls of said slot against perfect remedy plunger 18 B and lifter rod the two parts engaged thebendingaction on it by said cam at any and all adjustments of the plunger and bumper. f

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the push-down cam, of a plunger having a slot across the upper end and having a longitudinal hole having a diameter of substantially the width of said slot; and a bumper having a shank adjustably mounted in said hole and having a T-shapcd head engaging in said slot in the plunger, the width of said bumper-head substantially corresponding with the operating face of said cam.

3. Ina machine of the character described, the combination with the push-down cam, of the plunger of square section and having a slot diagonally across its upper end and a longitudinal hole having a diameter of substantially the width of said slot; and a bumper having a shank adjustably mounted in said hole in the plunger and having a T- shaped head engaging in said slot in the plunger, said head projecting beyond the walls of said slot for engagement by said cam.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the push-down cam, of the plunger having a slot across its top and extending longitudinally along the front of the machine, the plunger having a longitudinal hole; of a bumper having a shank engaging in said hole in the plunger, means for relatively adjusting said plunger and bumper longitudinally, said bumper having a -shaped head engaging in said slot in the plunger, said slot having a depth greater than the possible longitudinal adjustment of plunger and bumper and said head projecting beyond said slot for engagement by said cam.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the plunger and bumper designed to be interposed between the push-down cam and the work to be acted upon, the shanks of said plunger and bumper being constructed to permit one of them to be longitudinally engaged in and relatively adjusted with respect to the other, the bumper having a head diametrically larger than its shank and projecting beyond the plunger for engagement by the cam, said plunger being provided with a projection which engages against and supports the head of the bumper against the bending action of the cam at all adjustments of the plunger and bumper.

6. In a machine of the character the combination with the plunger for carrying the working tool, of the bumper hav ing a shank engaged and longitudinally adjustable in a hole in the plunger and having a head diametrically larger than its shank said head projecting beyond the plunger for engagement by an operating cam;

described,

in the plunger -fth'e plunger having a the bumper shank at all adjustments of plunger and bumper. v

. 7. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination with the plunger for carrying the working tool, of the bumper having a cylindrical shank engaging and adjustable in a cylindrical hole formed longitudinally in the plunger, the bumper having a head diametrically larger than its shank and projecting beyond the plunger to permit its end to be engaged by an operating cam, and said plunger having a projection engaging the side of the bumper head and thereby supporting the latter against, the bending action of the cam on the cylindrical bumper shank, said plunger projection being longer than the possible relative adjustment of plunger and bumper whereby said support for the bumper =head is provided for all stages of" adjustment. i

8. In a machine of the character "described, the combination with the plunger for carrying the working tool, of the bumper having a cylindrical shank engaging "and adjustable in a longitudinal hole in the plunger, the bumper having a head diametrically larger than its shank and extending above the top of the plunger to be engaged by an operating cam, and the plunger having a projection of greater extent than possible adjustment of the plunger relative to the bumper, said projection engaging a side of the bumper head which lies in line with the direction of movement of the operating cam, whereby the bumper head is supported against the bending effects of the cam on the bumper shank at all adjustments of plunger and bumper.

WILLIAM D. Hanson. 

